Benefits of yoga for your little one
Yoga offers many benefits for kids, it promotes flexibility, strength, balance, and mindfulness - but it can also be fun! Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word Yuj which means to yoke; to unite. When your little ones practise Yoga they are reconnecting to themselves.
Here are some fun yoga poses for your little one!
⛰ Mountain Pose with Hands Up (Tadasana)
Stand tall with feet together, arms reaching up to the sky. Be a strong mountain.
Benefit: Makes you feel tall, strong, and ready for anything.
🌳 Tree Pose (Vriksasana)
Stand tall on one foot, place the other on your leg (not your knee!), and bring hands together or grow your branches up.
Benefit: Helps with balance and focus—just like a steady tree.
🪑 Chair Pose (Utkatasana)
Stand with feet together, bend your knees like you’re sitting in a chair, and reach arms up.
Benefit: Makes your legs powerful and gives you lots of energy.
⚔️ Warrior 2 (Virabhadrasana - Vira means warrior)
Step feet wide, bend your front knee, stretch arms out like wings, and look past your front hand.
Benefit: Builds strength and courage—like a real warrior.
🐍 Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana)
Lie on your tummy, hands under shoulders, lift your chest up, elbows bent. Hiss like a cobra!
Benefit: Stretches your back and makes your chest feel open.
🐶 Downward-Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana)
From hands and knees, lift your hips high to make a triangle. Press hands and feet down.
Benefit: Stretches your whole body and gives you a boost of energy.
👶 Child’s Pose (Balasana - Bala means child)
Kneel down, bring toes together, rest forehead on the mat, arms forward or by your sides.
Benefit: Helps you relax and feel safe—like curling into a little ball.
🥰 Happy Baby (Anandabalasana - Anand means happy!)
Lie on your back, grab your feet, and pull knees toward your chest. Rock side to side.
Benefit: Loosens up your hips and makes you feel calm and happy.
Fun breaths to try:
Box breathing: Let’s start with 2 counts in, hold 2, exhale 2, hold 2 - you can build it up to 4 counts! Great one to help calm them down. Encourage them to imagine a box they are tracing.
Lions Breath: Inhale and on your exhale stick your tongue out, you can also roll your eyes back and feel free to use your hands like you’re roaring with your body. Inhale - hands up, exhale, bend the elbows and palms frame your face - roar like a Lion. So good for releasing excess energy and also a fun cheeky one!
Here are some Hindi words to use:
Haath - Hands
Pair - Feet/legs
Saans andaar - Breathe in
Saans bahaar - Breathe out
Upaar - Up
Niche - Down
Count in Hindi - ek, do, teen, char (1-4)
